Release

The Drew Barrymore Show: “Before” Star Rosie Perez

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“Before” Star Rosie Perez

Air Date: Wednesday, November 6th   

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Photo Credit: The Drew Barrymore Show/Ash Bean

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Videos:

Rosie Perez on Her History with the Foster Care System Influencing Her New Role

https://app.cimediacloud.com/r/INy40E1YXdmH

Drew: What I didn't know watching it. As I'm watching your character about the foster care system and your history with it.

Rosie: When Billy first offered me a role in it, it was a different role and I turned it down and I started crying and he goes, ‘Why are you crying?’ I said, ‘Because this is gonna be a hit, it's really good. And I'm so stupid.’ And I said, ‘But by the way, whatever you do, the role of Denise whoever you get for it, make sure they do due diligence, make sure they do their homework about the foster care system and make sure they don't pity the child because every time I see someone betray a foster mother or a foster parent, that's what I see. They feel like they have to have tough love and you better be ready for the world.

You can express that love in a very kind and caring, nurturing way as if that child is your own.’ And so I said, ‘Well, good luck, I'm probably gonna regret this conversation. But anyway, good luck.’ A couple of days later, Billy called back and he says, ‘We wanna offer you Denise.’ And I said, ‘What?’ And I said, ‘Oh my God. I don't know if I can.’ He goes, ‘But isn't that the point of the whole series?’ And I said, ‘Wow.’

And I started crying again and Billy and I just looked at each other and he winked at me and he goes, ‘I'll take care of you’ and that he did. Billy knew about my past, that I was also in foster care and it was very, very difficult. And when I, the role I told Billy, I wanna pay homage to the people that were good to me, not the bad people, but the people that were good to me and did see me as a human being and did see all my potential and offered me love and respect. And when we began filming, it was a little difficult for me. It was a little.

Drew: What you had gone through as a child. I didn't know this about you.

Rosie: Yeah. But it's ok because if I had not worked on myself, I couldn't even, I wouldn't have been able to do the show. If I didn't do the hard work of getting psychiatric care, dealing with my past and getting past my past, the pain will always be there. You know what I mean? But I had a wonderful psychiatrist. She told me, you were, you were just treading water in the Atlantic Ocean and I'm gonna bring you back.

But guess what, that water will never completely evaporate. But I'm gonna help you build a bridge over it and it'll just be a tiny puddle and sometimes when it rains, that puddle will kind of grow. But know that you have that bridge.

 

Rosie on Tupac Filing in As Date After She Got Stood Up

https://app.cimediacloud.com/r/k4E6wmsMT02o

Drew: I didn't know that you back in the day were like such good friends with Tupac Shakur. Do I have a story correct? Something about a date to a thing?

Rosie: Yes. So I was going to the Soul Train Music Awards and my date calls me up at half an hour before I'm getting in the car.

Drew: What a jerk.

Rosie: And says I can't go with you because my girlfriend will see me. And I was like, yeah, again laying out that truth. I hang up the phone and then it rings again and I think it's him and I was like, listen and he goes, what's up is p and I'm like ra ra, ra ra and he said, you know what, I'm gonna go with you. We're gonna walk up in there, we're gonna act like we're on a date and he's going to die.

Drew: And that's a good friend. Do you go out with him that night? But did, did you guys meet up with someone else?

Rosie: Yes. My dear friend. I haven't seen her in years. But Madonna, she was there and she came up to me and she was like, yo, what's up? Y'all are together? And I said, no, she goes, really? I go, yeah, she goes hook me up. I said you got it.